Dolomite beach stays open to public
By Nidz Godino
“We cannot close it down….if we spent so much just to close it, I don’t think it will be fair to the Filipino people”, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said they won’t close Manila Bay Dolomite Beach even if it was crowded amid COVID-19 pandemic.
DENR made the position even if throngs of people flocked to the artificial white sand area, raising concerns that this could be super spreader event.
The Manila Bay Dolomite Beach project, dubbed as beach nourishment, costs P389 million.
Antiporda said since mass gathering in the area over the weekend, authorities have modified the guidelines to only allow batch of people to stay in the area for five minutes, after which they will have to leave so the succeeding batch will get to enter.
Likewise, Antiporda said DENR and Manila City government has deployed additional marshalls to ensure visitors are complying with minimum public health standards such as social distancing and proper wearing of face mask and face shield.
“The dolomite beach was opened to relieve anxiety of people amid pandemic, but we will not permit a super spreader. ..we are recalibrating our system to ensure safety of our people,” he said.
Earlier Manila Bay Coordinating Office said it will close the dolomite beach every Friday for maintenance, and will limit entry of people to avoid increasing risk of coronavirus infection.
Families continued to flock to the area over the weekend amid looser COVID-19 restrictions in Metro Manila under Alert Level 3.
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